1/29/2013 |
Schneider reportedly retires after 13 yearsCatcher Brian Schneider, who caught 13 years with the Expos/Nationals organization, Mets and Phillies, has decided to retire, according to his hometown newspaper, the Allentown Morning Call.

1/29/2013 |
Murphy, Mets avoid arbitration with one-year dealThe Mets on Tuesday reached an agreement with second baseman Daniel Murphy on a one-year deal, avoiding arbitration. Murphy was the last Mets player awaiting an arbitration hearing next month.

1/29/2013 |
Red Sox bullpen coach won't return for '13 seasonWell-respected Red Sox bullpen coach Gary Tuck, who was to be the only holdover on the staff from a year ago, has decided not to return for 2013, according to a WEEI.com report Tuesday.

1/29/2013 |
Moreland, Gentry focused on what they controlThe events of the Rangers' tumultuous offseason swirl around first baseman Mitch Moreland and outfielder Craig Gentry. They know the news, the rumors and gossip, but profess to not being affected by it all.

1/29/2013 |
Upton brothers' parents glad to see sons togetherWhen Manny Upton was at Turner Field for his son B.J. Upton's introductory news conference in November, he playfully told a media member to tell Braves general manager Frank Wren to trade for his other son.

1/29/2013 |
Rays brass meets with Pinellas County boardOn Tuesday afternoon, a contingent from the Rays headed by principal owner Stuart Sternberg addressed the Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners. The message echoed that of the previous week, when the same contingent met with the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners: Let's get the ball rolling.

1/29/2013 |
Mariners reportedly close to deal with ShoppachVeteran catcher Kelly Shoppach is in Seattle meeting with Mariners officials and is scheduled to take a physical on Wednesday, according to a baseball source, as the club continues looking to add depth behind the plate.

1/29/2013 |
Uptons the latest in a line of brotherly teammatesB.J. and Justin Upton are next in a line of approximately 100 sets of brothers to play as teammates. Though rare, brothers donning the same Major League uniform is nothing new. It can be traced as far back as 1882, when Bill and Jack Gleason suited up for the St. Louis Browns.

1/29/2013 |
Tougher PED penalties may be necessaryDespite arguably the strongest drug testing program in professional sports, there exists some unknown percentage of Major League and Minor League players using performance-enhancing substances. Perhaps, then, it's time to take another look at those penalties.

1/29/2013 |
Testing framework the strongest it's beenPlayers want a clean game -- at least the vast majority of them do. On this, there is absolutely no doubt. They want those who are caught with banned substances to be punished, and they want their drug-testing program to be the best on earth.

1/29/2013 |
Norris rooting for hometown Niners in Super BowlBud Norris and a bunch of his buddies are packing up the car and driving to New Orleans this weekend to see their beloved San Francisco 49ers play the Baltimore Ravens in Super Bowl XLVII, but the Astros pitcher is anything but a front-running fan.

1/29/2013 |
Bucs' non-roster invitees list includes familiar namesIn 2011, Joe Beimel converted the opportunity into becoming the primary lefty in the Pirates' bullpen for the first half of the season. Last spring, Juan Cruz earned a significant role as a valuable setup reliever. Who can emerge from this Spring Training's non-roster invitee bunch to make a major contribution to the Pirates?

1/29/2013 |
Gio disputes report of connection to PEDsNationals left-hander Gio Gonzalez denied that he used performance-enhancing drugs after a report from the Miami New Times linked the pitcher to Anthony Bosch, who reportedy supplied PEDs to professional athletes from Miami.

1/29/2013 |
Gonzalez set to return as Crew's backup shortstopBarring a snag in his physical exam, the Brewers' 2012 Opening Day shortstop will be this year's backup. General manager Doug Melvin confirmed Tuesday that the team was moving toward a one-year deal with Alex Gonzalez.

1/29/2013 |
Great American idea: Give Cincy more All-Star GamesOK, OK. Let me get this out of the way: I'm a little biased when it comes to the Reds. I spent much of my youth in Cincinnati when the Big Red Machine was the rage. I also didn't exactly bleed Dodger Blue while matriculating at Miami (Ohio) University up the road in Oxford.

1/29/2013 |
A-Rod denies link to clinic named in reportAlex Rodriguez allegedly made purchases of performance-enhancing drugs from a South Florida clinic over the last four years, according to a report published on Tuesday by the Miami New Times. Rodriguez denied any link in a statement issued by his spokesman.

1/29/2013 |
Rangers respond to Miami report on CruzThe Rangers offered little comment on a report out of Miami that stated outfielder Nelson Cruz was among a list of prominent clients at a clinic under investigation for the sale of performance-enhancing drugs.

1/29/2013 |
Although deal unlikely, Mets meet with BournGeneral manager Sandy Alderson and assistant GM John Ricco flew to Houston last week to have dinner with Michael Bourn and his agent, Scott Boras, according to the New York Post. But the meeting "was more a getting-to-know-you session than a dollars-and-cents negotiation," according to the paper, "at a time when the dollars and cents remain among the most significant hurdles in doing a deal."